paul sigurdson
“Realtors don’t retire, they just become listless,” jokes Paul Sigurdson. But at 68 years young, “listless” is about the last word anyone would use to describe him. After more than four decades in real estate, Paul still insists, “I’m in the optimism business.”
His career in sales began in an unlikely place. While studying at the University of Minnesota, a friend convinced him to sell frozen hamburger and steaks door-to-door. “When you’re twenty, it seemed adventurous and fun,” Paul recalls. That early job taught him the grit and resilience needed to thrive in sales. “You hear a lot of ‘no’s.’ I’ll never forget our trainer’s advice: three out of 100 people are assholes—and you’ll meet them all on your first day.”
Paul quickly realized he had a natural gift. One afternoon, while trying to sell an armful of framed artwork to a real estate office with bare walls, he left without closing the deal—but with a new career. They hired him to sell land in Florida. That chance encounter sparked a lifelong journey through every corner of real estate: residential, multi-family, non-profit, lobbying politicians in Washington DC, and even teaching at the Minnesota School of Real Estate. His achievements include a “Realtor of the Year” award from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors. “For me, it’s always been about meeting people and learning new things,” Paul says. “I’ve always been willing to try anything once. And I’m still here! I must have more than nine lives.”
Outside of business, Paul’s world is just as colorful. He’s a car enthusiast, a coin collector, and a lifelong fan of Mad Magazine. Above all, he is passionate about music. Big venues and small, he has attended more than a thousand live concerts across the country, each one feeding his sense of wonder and joy.
That same curiosity and zest for life now fuel his role at the Round Table. “Being static as you grow older is dangerous—you lose your mojo,” Paul reflects. Instead, he chooses connection, exploration, and optimism. Whether in real estate, music, or friendships, Paul Sigurdson continues to live proof that curiosity keeps you young.